No idea about skin care - help please!

[Mauvish1]

Post menopausal. My skin tends to be dry but I have a lot of open pores on my nose and chin. I used to have very sensitive skin but haven't suffered any eczema or allergic reactions for years. I don't wear foundation etc, just a bit of mascara, occasionally some under eye concealer.

Current "regime": wash with soap, use simple moisturiser and make up remover, Clean and Clear cleansing lotion. SPF and/or a hat on sunny days. Don't want to change this cleaning routine.

But I've got some retinol cream! Wrinkles have appeared coincidental with weight loss (who knew?!) I know I need to build up the retinol usage slowly and to be careful with SPF. My questions:

Retinol, moisturiser, SPF. In what order?

SPF every day, even when raining?? Or only on brighter days? Or only on days when I use the retinol?

I got a free tester for some serum too. Does this do anything? If so, what's best - vitC? Hyaluronic acid? Peptides? Where does it fit in the layers of other creams etc?

And how do you stop concealer smearing everywhere once you've got all these other creams on?

Sigh. After a lifetime of very basic skincare (and not bad skin, I'm usually taken as younger than I am), it seems there's far too much confusing choice now!

Only use the retinol at night. Put a small amount on and wait for 15 minutes. Then put on moisturiser.

Day time use moisturiser and SPF. I just use a Vitamin C serum and spf actually as I don't like heavy moisturiser in the day

If your concealer is melting off, just wait for the skin care to sink in first..about 10 mins if you use moisturiser. Don't use a heavy one.

Serum plus moisturiser plus spf in day in that order. Retinol plus serum if using (nothing too strong or active on retinol nights) plus moisturiser at night.

The rule is the liquidy products first building up to heavier ones.

Re the Clean and Clear I know you are happy with it but it might be too stripping if you are using retinol. Try a cleansing oil? Softymo is great. You just put it all over your face including eyes and rinse it off. From Japan..you get it on Amazon quite cheaply at it lasts for ages.

Thank you, that seems clear

You say your skin is dry but you don't want to change your cleansing routine. There's a problem there.

You need more gentle, moisturising cleansing. I'd get rid of the soap and Clean & Clear. Too harsh. Maybe Cerave Hydrating cleanser and a decent moisturiser and spf.

Retinol could leave your skin tight and uncomfortable if you don't sort out the dryness first. Maybe once a week to start sandwiched between layers of moisturiser.

Good point @wherearethesnacks

If you still want to use soap OP, Dove soap would be the only one I personally would use as it doesn't dry your face out. I'm strict about everything I put on my face and I'm happy to spend money and I still swear by Dove.

I'll be honest. I wash my face in the shower, hence the soap. And if I'm even more honest I'll say that I can't see myself washing my face separately before or after the shower!

But I could happily use a gentle face wash in the shower instead of soap, if anyone has any recommendations? Preferably from the cheaper end of the market!

Just use Dove in the shower for face and body! Better for the environment. I don't know any facewashes I would use but someone might.

Most of the Simple range is good, I've seen a lot of recommendations here for their face washes. I especially like their Repairing Rich Cream.

The order is cleanser, serum if using one, moisturizer, then SPF last as your final step in the morning, and yes SPF every single day regardless of weather because UV penetrates cloud cover and contributes to collagen breakdown whether you can feel the sun or not, which is especially relevant when you are using retinol since it increases photosensitivity, and for the serum question hyaluronic acid is the most forgiving starting point for post menopausal dry skin since it adds hydration without the adjustment period that vitamin C requires and layers well under your moisturizer without disrupting anything.

I am similar age and was also in a skincare rut but different because I was chucking lots of actives on my skin and wondering why it looked crap. So. I got a good picture of my skin - with its open pores and redness and bumpy texture and posted to ChatGPT for its suggestions. Lo and behold it suggested I stop with the acids and start looking after my skin barrier before adding back in a retinol. I’m a couple of weeks in and can already see an improvement.
I mention this because it is easy for people to recommend products and routines that suit their skin - and SO MANY PRODUCTS. Aha, bha, peptides, ceramides. It would be easy to spend lots of money and not get results.
chatgpt recommended quite good value products like ordinary and inkey. Even when I asked if there were ‘better’ or more luxury versions, it said honestly don’t bother.
anyway, hope this is useful

Medik8 lipid oil cleanser or cerave as someone mentioned above - I wash my face in the shower just bring the bottles with you!

medik8 is a bit pricier but it is excellent especially if using retinol/tretinoin.

They do a fantastic vitamin c range, moisturiser with collagen and peptide serum as well. Well worth the money in my opinion.

also wee tip - if you are using tretinoin, vitamin c and double cleanse at night, don’t cleanse in morning just rinse with water. Tretinoin can be really drying and not cleansing in the morning can help preserve your skin barrier and reduce any irritation/overdrying.

For order I would do

morning:
water only
Vitamin c
peptides
moisturiser
spf (daily when using retinol)

evening:
makeup remover balm
double cleanse
Peptide serum
wait until all this has dried
retinol/tretinoin (pea sized amount 2-3 times per week)
light moisturiser over the top to seal (I use the medik8 pro collagen advanced cream)